Video games can affect your blood pressure and pulse rate by either stimulating you or calming you down.
Here's a slightly more detailed explanation:
How video games affect pulse rate I don't know if every one gets as irate and panicky about video games as I do, but the fact is that when we play video games- our brain almost reacts as if we were actually in the game.
If you've ever played a high-speed racing game or a first-person shooter, you'll know just how easy it can be to forget that you're actually just sitting in front of a TV.
Adrenaline is the main substance associated with brain activity under these circumstances, and is responsible for the racing pulse and heart beat that gamers experience.
It is released because the brain reacts to the 'danger' in games in much the same way it would react to a danger in real life - by pumping adrenaline into your system to make you more efficient at fighting or escaping.
Whilst this is all solid proof of how games affect our pulse rate, the link to blood pressure is slightly less straightforward.
Affects of video games on blood pressure
Whilst you'd think increased adrenaline and heart rate would automatically mean higher blood pressure, this is not necessarily true.
A study by Susan J. Stahlman found that heart rate in a test group of 11 to 18 year olds remained unchanged.
However, whether adrenaline and stress has a longer term affect on gamers is unknown.
The final point I'd make is that, it can be easy to think of video games as high-octane entertainment, but there are also plenty of video games out there that have a calming affect on the player.
Here's a slightly more detailed explanation:
How video games affect pulse rate I don't know if every one gets as irate and panicky about video games as I do, but the fact is that when we play video games- our brain almost reacts as if we were actually in the game.
If you've ever played a high-speed racing game or a first-person shooter, you'll know just how easy it can be to forget that you're actually just sitting in front of a TV.
Adrenaline is the main substance associated with brain activity under these circumstances, and is responsible for the racing pulse and heart beat that gamers experience.
It is released because the brain reacts to the 'danger' in games in much the same way it would react to a danger in real life - by pumping adrenaline into your system to make you more efficient at fighting or escaping.
Whilst this is all solid proof of how games affect our pulse rate, the link to blood pressure is slightly less straightforward.
Affects of video games on blood pressure
Whilst you'd think increased adrenaline and heart rate would automatically mean higher blood pressure, this is not necessarily true.
A study by Susan J. Stahlman found that heart rate in a test group of 11 to 18 year olds remained unchanged.
However, whether adrenaline and stress has a longer term affect on gamers is unknown.
The final point I'd make is that, it can be easy to think of video games as high-octane entertainment, but there are also plenty of video games out there that have a calming affect on the player.
